News & Press: Professional Development

Two Pillars of Professional Growth Offered By CSMFO

Tuesday, February 25, 2025  
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Unlock your professional growth with CSMFO. The Mentorship Program and Cohort Program offer valuable experiences to help you thrive in the California municipal finance sector. Don't miss out on these opportunities!
Author: Mark Petrasso
Two Pillars of Professional Growth Offered By CSMFO 
Among the many benefits CSMFO offers its members, two important and valuable programs are available for all members to leverage as tools for professional growth within their agencies and the entire California municipal finance sector. Both the CSMFO Mentorship Program and the CSMFO Cohort Program provide tangible and useful experiences that will definitely help you reach your goals and beyond!

The Mentorship Program seeks to assist government finance professionals who aspire to advance their careers by fostering professional relationships. Through innovation and collaboration, finance professionals can develop and expand their leadership skills, build confidence, and provide leaders an opportunity to give back to their profession. Mentors and Mentees in the Mentorship Program meet on a one-on-one basis either in-person or virtually and work closely and together on their own schedule and frequency. They will enhance their meetings with numerous tools and resources provided by CSMFO so both participants can achieve their desired goals.

The Cohort Program objectives are to build a sense of team among CSMFO members, improve professional advancement opportunities, and offer a fuller understanding of everything CSMFO offers its members. These objectives are accomplished by bringing a diverse group of members from across the State together to network with each other. Cohorts meet virtually on a monthly basis, and program topics include networking, career path planning, tools for improving your relationship with your City Manager/General Manager, hot topics relevant to finance professionals, and ways to get more satisfaction out of your personal and professional accomplishments.

Two great programs! Which one is right for you? Well, that depends on your goals for individual and professional growth. Either way, these highly regarded CSMFO programs give you the tools and the flexibility to achieve your goals.

Registration is now open for both programs, and the deadline is March 21.

Don’t wait – sign up today!
Mentorship Program
Cohort Program
Mark Petrasso is Senior Vice President at Zions Bank and Manager of their Los Angeles Corporate Trust office. He has over 25 years of Corporate Trust administration, management, and business development experience and has served the California, Arizona and Nevada municipal finance marketplace since 1998. Mark has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where he also served one term as a legislative aide to the State of Connecticut General Assembly – House of Representatives. He has been an active CSMFO member for over 10 years and is currently serving on the CSMFO Membership and Mentorship Committees.